It’s the luck of the Irish today as my Random Tuesday carry is this shell-handled Jowika Stockman, made in Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland.
Jowika (Ireland) Ltd was a German-owned company. Jowika Stahwlarenfabrik Eugen Weber & Altenbach KG had a factory in Solingen, and traced their history back to 1928, when they were called Kleinwafers. Encouraged by the Irish government, the Webers opened offices in Listowel in 1960, to recruit a workforce and plan their business. Since none of their workers had any cutlery experience, 30 of them were sent to the Solingen factory to be trained. Jowika’s purpose-built factory opened in Listowel in 1962, with 130 workers at the height of production. Jowika’s trademark was a kookaburra, and like other companies, such as Richards of Sheffield, they specialised in inexpensive pocket cutlery aimed at the low-end of the market. Like Richards, they took advantage of Lohr and Stiehl’s patented shell-handled designs, which used highly mechanized production, and needed only a semi-skilled workforce.
In 1973, Jowika were bought by Imperial, and its name was changed to Stag Cutlery Ltd. Tang stamps were marked ‘Stag Ireland’ and later ‘Imperial Ireland’. Here’s some rare footage from the factory, including a visit by the then US Ambassador to Ireland (you’ll notice how everyone suddenly starts working!).
Unlike Imperial’s other European acquisition, Richard’s of Sheffield, which closed in 1980, Stag continued to produce knives until 2004, when sadly, the 28 remaining workers were made redundant, and the Listowel factory closed its doors for the last time.
Still, it's getting a knife in my pocket that I haven't carried in a long time.
